Heading into last Sunday's matchup against division rival Green Bay, the Lions were 6-1, had won five straight games, and were playing as well as any team in the league. They scored 52, 47, and 42 points in recent weeks as they picked up some easy wins.
One of the reasons it was assumed they were playing so well was because they were playing all of their games indoors. According to ESPN.com and Elias, "The Lions had played their first seven games of the season indoors, the only team to do so other than the 1998 New Orleans Saints in NFL history."
However, in week 9, they went on the road to the cold, windy, and wet environment of Lambeau Field for their first road game of the season and, for the third straight time, beat the Packers in Green Bay. Sure, the Lions looked great indoors and against weak teams like the Titans, Seahawks, and Cowboys so far this season, but on Sunday, they faced a tough test and showed what they're capable of.
After the game, Dan Campbell shared how his team can handle any situation: "I know this, I'm not shocked one bit that we came out here and played pretty good football out in the elements. We're built for this. And it doesn't matter and just because we play indoors, it doesn't matter. We can play anywhere. We can play in the snow. We can play in the rain, play in the mud, that's just us. We're built to win."
The Lions are built on a solid foundation of running the ball, not turning the ball over, and playing tough defense. They showed they could win comfortably indoors, and then passed the test they could overcome the challenging elements of Lambeau Field.
What will they reveal moving forward when they face more formidable opponents on the schedule? Will they continue to prove they can play with anyone, anywhere, because they are "built to win"?
When it comes to our lives, if things are going comfortably well "playing indoors" and we haven't had any "tough matchups" lately, our faith in God can appear strong. Having enough money in the bank, good health and no major opponents or obstacles can make us feel good about our "winning record" and find it "easy" to trust God.
When life is going how we want it to, and we're around familiar "opponents," we might even become more vocal about our faith. Yet, what happens when we're "on the road" and in a hostile environment where the "opponents" become greater and the elements around us become fierce and challenging?
How do we respond when the intensity of life increases? What happens when it's not comfortable or convenient to be a Christian, and it costs us something to follow Jesus? How do we handle the more challenging trials in life regarding our health, work, finances, and relationships?
It's one thing to believe in God on Sunday mornings or have faith in Him when our prayers are answered quickly, but what about when we're tested? What happens when we have to wait for answered prayers or when the answer is no?
As followers of Jesus, we will face many challenging tests, and when we do, what will be revealed?
1 Peter 1:6-7(NLT) tells us, "So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world."
1 Peter 4:12-13 (AMP) also says, "Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal which is taking place to test you [that is, to test the quality of your faith], as though something strange or unusual were happening to you. But insofar as you are sharing Christ's sufferings, keep on rejoicing, so that when His glory [filled with His radiance and splendor] is revealed, you may rejoice with great joy."
Tests show how genuine and deep our faith is and whether or not we truly trust God regardless of the circumstance and opponent. Are we "built to win" and ready to face anything, anytime, anywhere, because we rely on Christ for strength?
As we continue on our journey, life's tests, trials, and storms will come, but when they do, will they reveal a strong foundation on which our life is built?
Jesus encourages us to build our lives on Him and His words as our firm foundation. He says in Matthew 7:24-25 (ESV), "Everyone then who hears these words of Mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the Rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the Rock."
Today, let's acknowledge that tougher opponents and tests may be on our "upcoming schedule," but let's confidently know we can stand firm in victory when our faith is deeply rooted in Jesus and built on the Rock.
We are "built to win"!
I'm Bryce Johnson, and you can UNPACK that!
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I pray my faith continues to be strengthened and deepened as my life is built on the foundation of Jesus. My faith will constantly be tested, but help me stand firm by trusting in You. Through the trials, I hope that the genuineness of my faith will be revealed and You will strengthen me in my weaknesses. In Jesus' name, I pray, Amen.
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